SPAIN is in the top 10 worldwide for countries with the greatest level of equality between men and women, according to the most recent World Economic Forum report.
International Women's Day (March 8) demonstration in 2019. Gatherings were not advised this year due to the pandemic
Out of 153 nations studied, Spain comes eighth – and many other western European nations, including the UK, do not even make it into the top 10.
In fact, Spain even beats Germany, whose national leader – Chancellor Angela Merkel – is female, fronting a Parliament where 40% of its members are women; the central European nation comes 10th.
The most recent figures available are from early 2020, and show that on a global level, it will take 257 years at the current rate before women have the same financial opportunities as men, and shows that even in European Union countries, where progress is the fastest in this area, the gender pay gap remains at about 21.5%.
Not all the 'most equal' countries are in Europe, though, says the World Economic Forum report – one of the best on earth, coming 9th, is Rwanda, even after its having fallen several places in the past year.
Over 50% of Rwanda's national Parliament is made up of women, although the country still suffers from a significant gender pay gap with females' salaries being considerably lower than those of males.
Another non-European country in the top 10 which may come as a surprise is Nicaragua, one of the poorest nations in the Americas – coming 5th overall, Nicaragua has worked hard to achieve parity in education at all levels, and boasts a high percentage of women in positions of power and responsibility.
Part of this is possible because, like many Central American nations, many of the men have emigrated to wealthier countries, such as the USA, to work, meaning women are more numerous and effectively 'run the show' in the males' absence.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com